Reading a Classic

December 1, 2015

English 1 and English 1-Honors students recently read the classic American novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story narrated by a funny, curious young girl growing up in the 1930’s. However, it also deals with serious issues such as the economic struggles during The Great Depression, lasting racism and segregation, and a community torn by prejudice. Before reading students did an author study about Harper Lee. They found that Lee based the novel on her own life, growing up in the South during the 1930’s. Most students thoroughly enjoyed reading about the gripping court case that plays out in the story; they were also shocked by the verdict in the end. Last, students wrote an essay describing whether or not they believe the novel should be taught in schools. Some schools across the country believe this novel is too offensive to be read in the classroom due to some language and racial issues. However, most will argue that this timeless novel teaches moral lessons and it’s heartwarming characters show true character. Students had to include research from one online source in their essay. They did a fantastic job learning the steps of the research process.

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